Maven Toronto

Food was great, but not exceptional. It might just be because I had went with a relatively simplistic order of schnitzels as my main, but my impression was that although it was delicious, it lacked the layering that made it exceptional. That said, the staff were amazing: they were very proactive with their service and really helpful with explaining the menu and proposing suggestions. Altogether a really good dining experience.

The chicken schnitzel is amazing and worth stopping by. We also got the challan buns, carrots 🥕 and the pasta dish. Amazing meal and felt affordable.

Came here to celebrate my friend's birthday, unfortunately we were disappointed. We both got pickletinis after an uninspiring explanation of the rest of the drink menu. It was savoury and delicious. We had the challah buns with chicken liver mousse and hamachi crudo to start. The mousse was great but the bun tasted store bought. We end up waiting an entire hour until shishito peppers and duck confit came out. I can understand if it was a busy time but this was 9:45pm and we were one of the last tables left. Our waiter didn't come to check on us so I had to follow up on when our dishes would be arriving. I will say that the duck was crispy on the outside and tender on the inside and the flavours were well balanced. Lastly we had the peach trifle, described as "almond olive oil cake, peach, creme fraiche, poppyseed". The whole dish just tasted like lemons and cream, it was really sour. When I kindly told the waiter when she asked how the dish was. She responded with "I'll make note of that". My friend also mentioned that she couldn't taste the almond olive oil in the cake she replied with "Well, that's just what the cake is made of. Not what it tastes like". Is the menu not describing flavour profiles? Otherwise you might as well put sugar and eggs in the description as well.

First of all, I truly wish I could give a higher rating than 5 stars. I don’t even know how to put in words how to describe how my meal was, it was honestly one of the best meals I have had in my life. Shauna is a genius, crafting dishes with layers of flavours. Making you fall in love with ingredients you didn’t even know you loved. It’s more than food, it’s passion and you can see that when you speak with Shauna. When you ask her about the food, she lights up, she’s brilliant and very humble. It’s so beautiful to see. The staff were incredible, so kind, attentive and amazing with our children. We loved every dish. Blew us away. If we lived in Toronto, we’d be there constantly. It’s a must try!

Excellent restaurant. The food was amazing and service attentive to details. Highly recommend the Challah buns with chicken liver mousse, and the Chicken schnitzel, simply delicious.

A Delightful and delicious dining experience. I have wanted to try this restaurant for a few months but I live out of town and needed to make a special trip. A couple of weeks ago in my Air Canada newsletter Maven was listed as one of the top restaurants in Canada . Then I heard CBC’s metro morning host David Common interviewing chef owner Shauna Godfrey and “kvelling” over her potato latkes. Our visit this week was certainly worth the effort . It’s Hanukah and a special menu was added including potato latkes, beef brisket and homemade jelly donuts . The latkes were crispy with tasty apple sauce and sour cream toppings. The brisket was melt in your mouth with fresh horseradish toppings give it a kick . We shared the donut which was warm with tasty filling . We also tried the regular menu a bowl of toasted cashews flavoured with everything bagel topping . Yummy. Fresh challah with liver. Mouse pate has a jellied berry topping . My wife hates liver but loved this appetizer. Homemade coleslaw was good but not my favourite. The chicken schnitzel with a semi sweet plum sauce topping arrived crispy and hot . Definitely my favourite dish. We finished with lattes to wash down dessert . My wife enjoyed a cocktail that was concocted for the holiday . Service was outstanding , but not intrusive. Our water glasses were constantly refilled . The staff were friendly and happy . As we were leaving Chef Shauna invited us to join her team to light the Hanukah candles and sing . Overall a wonderful dinner that will be remembered. PS If you are driving there is city paid parking on the street in front of the restaurant, but it’s adjacent to a bike lane . We parked on Spadina . Dinner for 2 as described with tax and tip $175. Reservations required . Book on their website.

Put simply WOW! The food, service, ambience were a 10/10!!! Definitely on our favourite list of go to places in TO. Missed taking pics of the Chahala bread/butter spread and the potatoes. The cheese cake almost got eaten before I realized a pic was needed. Our food was soooo delicious. Madie, our server/bartender rounded out our experience. She was friendly, efficient and fun to watch as she prepared the numerous concoctions. Glad we had a to go treat to take with us :)

maven is perfect! so cozy and welcoming yet elegant and classy at the same time. their menu is perfect for sharing. i went with 3 others and we got the schnitzel, kale salad, 2 orders of challah, charred carrots, salami, and crispy potatoes. it was definitely enough for 4 of us (volume-wise), and it was beyond yummy. everything was crafted with such quality and care. on top of that, the space and servers themselves are wonderful. the space feels intimate but not so intimate that you can hear everyone’s conversations. the servers were also so kind and gave great recommendations and checked in on us the perfect amount. for dessert, to top things off, i don’t think you can go wrong with anything you get. we got the cheesecake (which was fantastic), but the other two options looks incredible too as i saw them at other tables. book your reservation to Maven asap! you’ll understand why everyone loves it.

Wow! An amazing dinner at Maven. I saw they had made the Air Canada top 10 restaurants list so I had to check it out. I'm so glad. We went for a 5pm reservation and it filled up rather quickly. The host and all the servers were really wonderful and attentive. For a group of 3 they recommended 4 small plates and 2 large ones all to share. Something nice is that they have complimentary sparkling water which I enjoyed. We ordered the challah - both the butter and pâté versions - the BBQ salami, crispy potatoes, the turnips, the endive salad, and the chicken schnitzel. They brought out the bread and salami first as well as complimentary house-made coleslaw which was crispy, light, and added a perfect vinegary bite. The challah was warm and airy. I didn't try the butter but I thought the pâté was very nice and smooth. The BBQ salami was incredible!! The mustard was a nice compliment with the apricot flavour as well. The turnips, salad, and potatoes came next, followed quickly by the chicken. I loved everything. The pear in the salad was an unexpected highlight. The chicken was the standout for sure. I absolutely loved it. For dessert we tried the cheesecake which was nice, a good balance of tang and mild sweetness. The bathrooms are also nice with the little WC signs, the good paper towel, and the recipes in addition to other art prints on the walls. I don't normally comment on the washrooms, but these were cute. Overall, everything we ate was wonderful and the service was great! It came out to about $170 for us but we ordered the perfect amount. It was a bit pricey but I really enjoyed everything. I would highly recommend Maven.

Part of a longer review... Some restaurants open with bravado -- neon signage, polished branding, a rehearsed backstory. Maven, on Harbord Street, does the opposite. It carries itself with quiet confidence. Chef Shauna Godfrey, a Culinary Institute of America graduate who trained at Michelin-starred Atera in New York before returning to Toronto to lead the kitchen at Momofuku Kōjin, built Maven as an extension of home. Inspired by her Ashkenazi grandmother, Bubby Rose, she channels memory into modernity. Even its name, Yiddish for "expert," captures both culinary authority and familial affection. The dining room's exposed brick and denim-blue banquettes lend it a contemporary polish, but heirloom touches ground it: portraits of family members watching over the space, and the sense that every detail has been chosen with care. The result is a room that hums with the ease of a neighborhood spot yet carries the refinement of a destination.

Love love love!! Not sure where to start! I went solo and thoroughly enjoyed my meal, but would definitely go again with friends to share plates! Service was friendly and attentive! Love the retro vibe and music was great. Food/Drink: Non-alcoholic drink with ginger beer - fantastic ! Challah bun with salted butter - delish! Chicken schnitzel with plum butter and mustard, and lemon - amazing! Crispy potatoes with mensch sauce -very good! Complimentary coleslaw - so good!! I couldn't finish the schnitzel or the potatoes so I took some home. And had no room for dessert sadly... but will definitely come back for Bubbie's cheesecake!! Everything on the menu sounds amazing!!

This restaurant is only a few months old, but it has a lot going for it, namely the location on Harbord, the lovely and attentive service and the hot challah buns with a salty butter accompaniment. The vibe is retro, with a lot of wooden accents throughout. We ordered the chicken schnitzel, cavatelli (made with chickpea), crispy potatoes, carrots, beets and bubby Rose's cheesecake. I also had the Oy Vey cocktail, which was very refreshing. The food is Jewish style, and the coleslaw accompaniment was a nice touch as well. The menu is streamlined, with only a few choices. Come here for a nice night out with friends or family and enjoy an inventive menu.

This is the newest addition to the Harbord restaurant scene. The restaurant does a take on modern Jewish cuisine. Location: Harbord Village Service: attentive, wanted to ensure we were looked after Atmosphere: cozy, romantic, wine bar vibes Food: roasted carrots, endive salad, roasted potatoes, pastrami crusted short rib, salmon crudo, beets Food thoughts: all of the food was delicious. The highlight was surprisingly the salmon crudo. Additionally they provide complimentary vinegar base coleslaw that was just like my grandmas; definitely a nice addition to start off the meal. We were also offered a complimentary side with our main dish. Overall: excited to return to try more of their food creations.

Everything was fantastic. Everything. The chicken liver mousse, the salmon, the schnitzel, the spaetzle, the cheesecake, all of it was life affirming! Oh and pickle brine martinis are the new best martini in the city- a must try. Honestly- every single thing blew our mind. Absolutely love this restaurant and so glad I went!

left the restaurant with complete joy. Excellent food, service, and value. Free sparkling water, refreshing!!!. Can't wait to get there asap.